ILOILO City – A proposed pedestrian safety ordinance has exposed political friction within the Iloilo City Council after Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia questioned fellow Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, accusing him of appearing to sideline a colleague’s measure to pave the way for his own proposal.
The confrontation took on a political dimension after Sarabia pointed out during Wednesday’s session that Cabaluna, chairperson of the committees on Transportation and Public Safety, is being considered by their political group as a candidate for vice mayor in the 2028 elections.
At the center of the dispute is Cabaluna’s proposed “Pakdol Ordinance”, or the Proposed Ordinance Establishing Standards and Protocols for Pedestrian Lanes and Other Pedestrian Facilities.
The measure seeks to establish standards for the location, design, lighting, maintenance and other interventions involving pedestrian lanes and facilities in Iloilo City.
Sarabia questioned Cabaluna over the committee-level action on a separate ordinance previously proposed by Councilor Jose Maria “Nene” Dela Llana that sought to penalize motorists who fail to give way to pedestrians using pedestrian lanes.
He raised the possibility that the thumbing down of Dela Llana’s proposal was intended to clear the way for Cabaluna’s own ordinance.
“I have the impression nga ginbasura mo ang proposal ni Councilor Dela Llana agud maka-propose ka man sang imo kaugalingon nga ordinansa. Ang gwa mo sini ya daw ginlaglag mo ang imo upod agud makapasar ka ya sang imo. Pag-intyende ko kandidato ta pa ni sa vice mayor for our side. How do you take this? This is not good leadership,” Sarabia said.
Cabaluna, Sarabia and Dela Llana all belong to the Team Uswag of Mayor Raisa Treñas in the 2025 elections.
Sarabia also raised concerns over possible parliamentary courtesy issues, considering Cabaluna’s committee chairmanship and his potential vice mayoral candidacy.
Cabaluna rejected Sarabia’s characterization, stressing that his committee did not kill Dela Llana’s proposal.
He explained that his committee report merely recommended that the measure be amended because the prohibited act it sought to address was already covered by an existing ordinance.
“The committee report did not put down the proposed ordinance of Councilor Nene Dela Llana. I said, and I quote, ‘in its present form.’ The committee report stipulated that the ordinance should not be passed in its present form, kag ang prohibited acts naga-exist na sa existing ordinance,” Cabaluna said.
He said Dela Llana could instead seek to amend the existing ordinance if the objective was to impose higher penalties.
“Kon gusto pataason ni Councilor Dela Llana ang mga penalidad, mahimo niya ipasar as an amendment to the existing ordinances. So wala ya ginhambal nga indi makapasar si Councilor Dela Llana,” Cabaluna said.
Cabaluna also maintained that his own proposed ordinance and Dela Llana’s proposal address different aspects of pedestrian safety.
Dela Llana’s measure focuses on penalties against motorists who fail to give way to pedestrians, while Cabaluna’s proposal seeks broader standards and protocols governing pedestrian lanes and facilities, including their location, design, lighting, maintenance and possible use of technology.
Cabaluna’s proposal was partly prompted by a viral video showing a man hitting a motorcycle rider on the head because the rider failed to stop while the man was crossing a pedestrian lane.
Recorded accidents involving pedestrians in Iloilo City, particularly near the Hall of Justice, also helped prompt the proposed measure.
Cabaluna said the ordinance is intended to address pedestrian safety risks before accidents occur.
Despite the sharp exchange, Cabaluna denied that the disagreement reflected a personal rift between him and Sarabia. He said they remain colleagues and members of the same political party and continue to work together on various legislative measures.
Cabaluna said he did not take Sarabia’s remarks personally and even spoke with him after the session. He maintained that disagreements aired during council sessions are part of the legislative process, where opposing arguments should be raised and proposals scrutinized.
The proposed “Pakdol Ordinance” remains under deliberation as the City Council considers measures aimed at strengthening pedestrian safety in Iloilo City./PN
